Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Ian. 22, I90l.

(Application and Aw. '5, 1900.

THE no M WAGNER ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

No. 666,58I.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE- MARTIN WAGNER, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,581, dated January22, 1901.

Application filed April 5, 1900.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LMAETIN WAGNER, manufacturer, a citizen of the Republicof France, residing at Paris, France, (whose postal address is 84 Rue dela Folie-Mricourt, Paris,) have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to'acetylene-gas-gencrating lamps.

One object of my invention is the provision of means for securingcontact of water with relatively small volumes of calcium carbidsuccessively, thus insuring gentle and gradual generation of the gas.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for controllingadmission of water to the carbid-chambers, while at the same timeinsuring a safety-outlet whether the admission-valve be opened orclosed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure l is a vertical section of my improved lamp. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on theline 4 4 in Fig. l; and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing therelative positions of the valve for admission and shutting off of thewater, respectively.

The gas-generator is shown at 1 in the form of a cylinder whose verticalwall 2 is contained within the outer casing 3 of the lamp. This casingcomprises the main reservoir immediately around and above the generator1 and the separate compensating chamber 4 directly beneath saidgenerator.

The generator is closed by a dome-shaped cover 5, made air-tight bymeans of a proper gasket 6 and held in place by the pivoted bail 7 andscrew 8.

The lower part of the generator-space is occupied by successive trays 9,resting one upon the other. Each tray is provided with a number ofcompartments 10, adapted to contain lumps of calcium carbid 11. Eachtray 9 is provided with a central tube 12, having passages 13communicating with the respective compartments and opening at difierentlevels into the central tube. The tubes communicate with each other andwith a final Serial No. 11,707. (No model.)

perforated entrance-tube 14, whereby a vertical passage is provided fromthe compensating chamber 4 to the top of the gas-generator.

The chamber 4 is provided with an aperture 15 for purposes of cleaning.

Leading from the top of the generator is the gas-conduit 16.

Athree-waycock 17 communicates with the chamber 4 by means of the pipe18 and by means of the pipe 19 with a point near the top 20 of the mainreservoir. As shown in Figs. 5 and '6, the casing of the cock 17 has alateral transverse opening intended to be submerged by water, whosenormal level is indicated by the line 21 in Fig. 1. This opening isshown as a small circle in the valve-c'asing near 17 in Fig. 1. The coreof the valve 17 is pierced with a through-passage intended to alwaysregister with the abutting pipes 18 and 19, and into thisthrough-opening a lateral branch extends, which branch may be broughtopposite the submerged hole in the valve-casing, as shown in Fig. 5, ormay be turned away therefrom, as in Fig. 6.

The main reservoir is normally filled with sired by the opening 22.

The purifier is shown at 23, and consists of a suitably-shaped chambersupported above the reservoir, within which is placed a Wire screen orperforated plate 24, supporting a body of purifying material, as 25,preferably powdered charcoal and calcium chlorid. The gas generated at 1passes out at 16 and through the pipe 26 to the purifier. There, passingthrough the material 25, it reaches the pipe 27, whence it may beadmitted by the cook 28 to the burner 29.

The operation of mydevice is as follows: The various compartments 10are' charged and the trays placed upon each other within the generator1, as shown, the various central tubes 12 being made to register throughout. The cover 5 is then screwed down and the reservoir filled to thelevel 21 with water, the cook 17 being in the position shown in Fig. 6.When it is desired to light the lamp, the cock 17 is first turned to theposition shown in Fig. 5, thus admitting Water through the submergedlateral opening to the chamwater 21, which may be drawn ofi when deber 4and thence by the pipes 14 and 12 to the compartments one after theother as the rising water reaches the successively-higher openings 13.As soon as the Water comes in contact with the calcium carhid in thefirst compartment, gas is generatechwhich, finding its way into the topof the generator and connected pipes, creates a back pressure which soonstops further ad vent of liquid. Any eX- cessive pressure acts to forceWater back through the pipes 18 and 19 and through both the lateralopening and the through-aperture in the valve 17. The generation of gasbeing thus inaugurated, the lamp can be lighted on turning the cook 28.It is evident that in proportion as the carbid becomes spent insuccessively-higher compartments 10 the water will be admitted to risehigher in the tubes 12 until all the carbid is spent. In putting out thelight the valve 17 is closed (see Fig. 6) before the cook 28, andfinally when the flame has nearly or quite gone out the cock 28 isclosed. As may be seen in Fig. 6, the through-passage in the valve 17permits compensation of excessive pressures developed after said valveis closed, since it still permits water from the chamber 1 to find itsway to the upper reservoir through the pipe 19.

It Will be understood that the precise shapes and sizes of the variousparts of my apparatus may be considerably varied Without dc parting fromthe spirit of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In an acetylene-lamp, a water-reservoir, agenerator, a compensating chamber adapted to hold water and gas, a pipeextending from said compensating chamber through said water-reservoirand terminating above the level of the water in the latter, and asubmerged valve in said pipe for admitting water when opened, said valvebeing provided with a through-passage which maintains an open outletfrom the compensating chamber whether said valve be opened or closed.

2. In an acetylene-lamp, agenerator, acompensating chamber beneath thesame, a feeding and relief pipe leading up from said chamber and athree-Way valve in said pipe the core of which has a transverse passagefor admitting water, and a through-passage for maintaining therelief-pipe open from end to end in either extreme position of saidvalve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 23d day ofMarch, 1900, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN WAGNER.

Witnesses:

AUGUSTE ToURNoL, FERNAND DESHARS.

